London City Airport is reported to be considering applying to raise limits on flights and passenger numbers.
The Docklands airport, which expects to exceed five million passengers next year, is limited to no more than 6.5 million travellers and 111,000 flights a year.
The number of passengers using the airport has grown by 50% since 2012 and now handles about 80,000 flights a year.
London City chief executive, Robert Sinclair, told The Times that “we will be reflecting on the future and life beyond our current planning caps” within the next year or two.
He said that the airport could play a vital role in adding capacity in the capital, with Heathrow’s planned third runway nit expected to be operational until 2026 at the earliest.
A £480 million scheme is already underway to improve facilities at London City, including new aircraft stands.
But any move to expand flights would face opposition from local residents.